Sounders Victory Plans Upended by Late Salt Lake Goal in 2-2 Deadlock

The trip to Sandy, Utah was into the bastion of last season’s MLS Cup titlist and the strategy of the Seattle Sounders became clear early in the contest against Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium.

The result was a hard-played 2-2 tie in which victory was snatched from the jaws of the invading Sounders in the closing seconds.

After a brief feeling out period, it became evident what Coach Sigi Schmid’s strategy was for the Emerald City club. Last week resulted in a home loss to the New York Red Bulls.

Schmid’s disappointment stemmed from the inability of his team to “close the deal” in the wake of numerous advances that resulted in scoring opportunities gone unfulfilled.

The spirited attack early in the contest revealed what Schmid had his charges doing in last week’s practices, generating an attack mode with a point producing result. This impressive thrust was highlighted by the speedy goalward assault of Steve Zakuani, who forced a bullet past Salt Lake goalie Nick Rimando in the 11^th minute.

Zakuani’s goal resulted from a pass from Fredy Montero and deflected off Rimando’s left foot, landing in the center of the net.

Stout defense in holding off repeated thrusts by the home team, led by speedy star attacker Javier Morales, saw the teams head to the dressing rooms at halftime with the Sounders up 1-0.

The home team displayed its offensive fireworks with Will Johnson supplying the equalizer in the 53^rd minute. Robbie Russell’s cross from the right side found Johnson, who knocked a diving header past Casey Keller at the far post.

Intent on regaining the lead, the Sounders surged back and secured the go-ahead goal to move up 2-1 at the 71 minute mark. The goal, launched by a Freddie Ljungberg free kick, produced the controversy of the night as it took one bounce and landed in the net.

The controversy related to goal credit. Tyrone Marshall was on the scene, supplied pressure, and his happy teammates hugged him as it was then anticipated that he would receive goal credit. Ultimately, however, the official call was an own goal.

Sigi Schmid looked understandably pensive for the remaining 20 plus minutes of action, knowing that the quickly attacking hosts would launch an all out assault to achieve no worse than a deadlock before the home fans.

The Sounders repelled goal assaults to retain their 2-1 edge at the close of 90 minutes of regular action, but the additional three plus tack on minutes would prove to their undoing as Salt Lake managed an equalizing goal.

At the 93 minute mark, the final 60 seconds of play, Alvaro Saborio connected on a header off a corner kick.

The 2-2 tie left the competing teams precisely deadlocked in the young MLS season. Each team stands at 1-1-1 with 4 points accumulated.

While the Sounders looked understandably shocked at the match’s close, and would greatly have preferred securing three points rather than one from the evening’s effort, there were good points to take away that Sigi Schmid can build upon in practice this week leading into Saturday’s noon home matchup with the Kansas City Wizards.

As opposed to last week’s loss at Qwest Field against New York, when numerous fervent attacks resulted in zero point production, a pair of quality goals were secured in a tough environment against the league’s defending titlist.

Casey Keller had a stellar evening, making some excellent saves, including one diving stop when it appeared that Salt Lake City would score. Zakuani and Ljungberg looked sharp as authoritative goal attackers and recent acquisition Pat Noonan blended comfortably into his first start after second half action last week.

The Emerald City warriors achieved a tie in a difficult venue against a championship club. From here Siggy’s team seeks a win Saturday in the friendly Qwest Field confines backed up by a sellout crowd.